National Republican., 1887-07-06
The United States and Great Britain.

MT, datneS hSltn, an EuBlSn writer,
furnishes the NincieCaM Century (Lonion
England) for June, an article entitled "Our
Great Competitor" IN which he contrasts
the advantages and disadvantages under
which the two great English speaking
nations "have to fight the commercial battle
Of life,'
Mr.. Keith names among the advantages
the Americans have, the cheapness aud
facility with which patents fer inventions
are obtained, and the protection given them
by law; the fact that taxation is merely
nominal as compared with rates in Great
Britain; better and more general educational
facilities and therefore more general enlight-
epment; our system Of local government;
the ownership of the soil by the farmers
who cultivate it. On this subject he says:
In country where farming pays and
fourishts abundantly, every other trade ald
profession iiourishes IN like proportion, AMI
plenty and contentment reign.
The next advantage is the cheapuess OF
food and under this head Mr.. Keith says:
Provisions OF all sorts in America are very
cheap, much cheaper than with US in the old
country, cheap though we think our food may
hc, therefore the cost of actual living Is very
low, and though clothing, luxurics, labor and
attendance are considerably dearer than in
this country, still the average Americ an work.
irgman lives 100 per cent, better than the
average workingman does in Great Britain,
because he has higher wages and cheaper
food in greater variety.
Next Mr.. Keith speaks Of the resources
Of the United States:
The natural resources of the United States
are enormous: in wood, coal, minerals, and
metals OF all sorts 1t Is, without doubt. the
wealthiest country in the world. The means
of Transit, by water and by rail, are as perfect
and complete as II Is possible to imagine.
being, in fact, unsurpassed by any series OF
countries.
Mr.. Keith then SAYS:
twill, ! think, be at once seen where we have
10 look for our rival, In commerce and In arts
and sciences, in the present as well as in the
future and that, If we can y any possibility
keep ahead Of or even abreast with the people
of the United States we can quite well afford
TO ignore all the other older and slower ma
tionalities of the world, and still hold our own
in progress and prosperity,
On our present lines, however, II is utterly
impossible for us To keep pace with our great
CuIptllNNI, hlll " ptHu NGa OtI peOpIt, anu e''
pecially our statesmen, 10 be stirring.
The disadvantages of Great Britain are dis
cussed, the same heads Deiug used, at much
greater length and suggestions made as to
how these disadvantages can be overcome.
MIR. Keith is evidently In favor OF home
rule, for, while speaking OF local goverl-
ment, he says;
We must decenlrall2e more--followlng the
successful example shown us by the United
States and our own colonies-and establish
local parliGments in England Scotland, Wales,
and Ireland, for the settlement of all matters
pertaining 10 local government In each OF
these countries, leaving imperial matters to be
settled solely by the parliament In London, II
We are to have progressive legislation and to
relieve the people of heavy burdens.
Mr.. Keith says truly;
The only advantage we have over tn United
States is, as have said, that we have chelp
lntor, ana because Of our cheap LABOR ana
that only, can we send ilto her markets raw
material and manufactured goods despite her
leAyy import du'ies The import duties of the
TEit(d States, however, are being gradually
lut surely lowered, and she Is tending toward